This page contains transcripts of three documents from the late 1870's relating to schools at Merino and Merino Downs. An important aspect of these documents are the lists of names of families and children in the area at the time. The documents are:

Letter of request for a school at Merino (1877).

Letter from Richard CARLINGTON, headmaster, to the Education Department, requesting action on the poor condition of the school residence (1878).

To the Honourable
The Minister of Public Instruction
Sir
We the undersigned inhabitants of Merino would most respectfully urge upon you the great necessity of building a State School at Merino. The building at present in use is quite inadequate for the requirements of the district, as is shown by the fact that there are over two hundred children of school age in the immediate neighbourhood, while the building at present used – a rented one – will accommodate only about one hundred, thus leaving one half of our children unprovided for. During the past summer the insufficiency of accommodation was painfully realized both by teachers and children; while many who dread the probable consequences of over-crowding in the schoolroom feel compelled to keep their children at home, and are thus deprived of the only means available for their education.

We most earnestly request that immediate attention be given to our case
And we remain, Sir
Your obedient servants
(The Undersigned)

Abbreviations: (LL) = Looks Like; ? = Unsure

NAME, Residence, Occupation [ 22 August 1877 ]

John Alex ADAMSON, Merino, Banker

George NORTHCOTT, Merino, Hotelkeeper

A McPHERSON Sr, Merino, Banker

Wm ? FRANCIS, Merino, Saddler

Joseph MAY, Merino, Wheelwright

John P JELBARTS, Merino, Blacksmith

Harry ? TOOHEY, Merino, Wheelwright

Charles E JELBART, Merino, Wheelwright

D McINTYRE, Merino, Storekeeper

William D MELDRUM, Merino, Coachbuilder

Thos D CLARKE, Merino, Poundkeeper

Benjamin FORD, Merino, Storekeeper

William FRANCIS ?, Merino, Butcher

John SILLIR [LILLIE ?], Merino, Storekeeper

M CUDDELL ? [CUSSENS ?], Merino, Storekeeper

R ? McDONALD [Skirving McDONALD ?], Merino, Saddler

Joseph JELBART, Merino, Blacksmith

D Matt REVELL, (LL) Merino, Coach painter

Henry McLEOD, Merino, Labourer

William GILLIES, Merino, Labourer

John PATERSON, Merino, Butcher

John KING, Merino, Farmer

Thomas JELBART, Merino, Blacksmith

John HOLLARD, Merino, Butcher

Edwin HUSSON, Merino, Farmer

Albert L CRAVEN, Merino, Chemist

James TAIT, Merino, Commission Agent

Alexander MATHESON, Merino, Farmer

Henry MUTCH, Merino, Brickmaker

Thos BRIGERS, (LL) Merino, Sawyer

Thomas SMITH, Merino, (Can’t read)

George DOUGLASS, Merino, Labourer

George TAIT, (LL) Merino, Farmer

Charles SCARBOROUGH, Merino, Carrier

James FULTON, Merino, Miller

Charles HOLLARD, Merino, Labourer

Alexander CAMERON, Merino, Farmer

Henry NORTHCOTT, Merino, Carpenter

Neil McINTYRE, Merino, Farmer

??, Merino, Storekeeper

John McLEAN, Merino, Farmer

John ALLITT, Merino, Farmer

Ross McKINNON, (LL) Merino, Butcher

Samuel GENGE, (LL) Merino, Farmer

Joseph GREENAWAY, Merino, Labourer

Robert FULTON, Merino, Miller

Israel MALING, Merino, Blacksmith

James BREBNER, Merino, Labourer

Ann NOLTE [ Henry ? ], Merino, Farmer

Moses BULLAS, Merino, Minister

Christopher COULSON, Dwyers Ck, Farmer

John LEAKE, Merino, Farmer

Robert HICKS, Merino, Carrier

James BOYD, Merino, Farmer

John McRAE, Merino, Farmer

Donald CAMERON, Merino, Farmer

Archibald McINTYRE, Merino, Farmer

Angus McINTYRE, Merino, Farmer

Alexander McNICOL, Merino, Farmer

Patrick BRUGGY, Merino, Labourer

John KING, Merino, Farmer

Richard Hy CARLINGTON, Merino, Teacher

Peter FINLAY, (LL) Merino, Carrier

James Nasbett, Merino, Labourer

James DRUMMOND, Merino, Farmer

M T CUSSEN, Merino, Storekeeper

P DOYLE, Merino, Labourer

Robert HEARD, Merino, Groom

Harry SCHNEIDER, Merino, Labourer

Eli PICKETT, Merino, Labourer

Joseph ROWE, Merino, Labourer

Heinrich KOHN, Merino, Builder

George NORTHCOTT, Merino, Saddler

Michael NOLAN, Merino, Farmer

James HEANEY, Merino, Contractor

Henry WRIGHT, Merino, Clerk

W LANG, Merino, Bricklayer

Letter from Richard Carlington, headmaster, to the Education Department, requesting action on the poor condition of the school residence.
10th May 1878.

The Secretary
Education Department
Melbourne

State School 416
Merino
10th May 1878

Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, (No S78/10250) in which you state, "that house" "of the residence attached to the above school cannot be regarded as absolutely necessary for school purposes, and you must, therefore, continue to be charged rent for the same".

I would respectfully call your attention to the fact that my principal reason for objecting to pay rent is, because the house is not fit for human habitation.

Briefly my case may be summarised thus –

The house is not fit for residence.

The Department will not make it fit.

Neither will the Trustees do so.

The Department on a previous occasion (in a communication in my possession) distinctly informed me that if I did not inhabit the house I should not be charged rent for it. That decision of the Department was carried out for some time.

Similar circumstances having again arisen, I unhesitatingly believed the Department would act in the same manner as previously.

I do most respectfully request that you will be pleased to reconsider the case and not insist on my paying rent for a house which I cannot inhabit, however earnestly I may wish to do so, without endangering the health and lives of my family.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

Richard Hy Carlington

Head Teacher

Letter of request for a school at Merino Downs, 1879)

Listing names and ages of students who would benefit, also signatures of parents.

(Source: Correspondence Files, Merino Downs SS 2548 PRO Victoria)

Education Department

To the Minister of Education

Honorable Sir

We the undersigned petitioners beg to state to you that we are in great want of school accommodation on Merino Downs side of Wannon River on account of children not being able to cross the same to Carrapooke (sic) side and Dwyers Creek too far away. Hoping that Your Honoor may see to our want as soon as convenient and enclosed with this is a list of the children’s names and ages as enquired by the Department on 10th April 1879.

William Hicks Farmer Merino Downs

Donald Cameron Farmer Merino Downs

Heinrich Gruneberg Merino Downs

Robert Roulston Farmer Merino Downs

John McMillan Farmer Merino Downs

John Outtram Farmer Merino Downs

Mrs Hadden Merino Downs

Thomas Noble Farmer Merino Downs

All parties herein signatures are genuine and no ………. of bachelors as has been represented heretofore in cases.

The names and ages of children that are ready also all growing families.